Vehicle wheel



Patented June g i I v V UNITED 'STATESHPATENT- oFFlca VEHICLE WHEEL JHarold Hunt and Harry J. Horn, Lansing. Mich, assignors to Motor WheelCorporation, Lansing, Micb., a corporation of Michigan ApplicationSeptember 18, 1937, Serial No. 164,448

3 Claims. (Cl. 301-108) This invention relates to vehicle wheels, andfrom the outer periphery thereof. The flange more particularly to theclips for securing a 2| of the cover plate is forced axially inwardlywheel cover in place on the wheel. over the hump 22' on eachsprlng clipI! and is An object of the invention is to provide a novel grippedbetween the wheel body portion l3 and 6. means for holding a wheel coverretaining clip the clip l9.

in'place on a vehicle wheel. The novel means for securing the clip tothe Other objects will appear in the following bolting on flange |2includes a cylindrical prospecification when read in connection with thejection 23 which is formed integrally withrthe accompanying drawingwherein like reference bolting on flange l2. The metal of the bolting l0numerals designate corresponding parts in the on flange is preferablyextruded through a die several views. (not shown) to form the projection23, and it In the drawing: may be formed during one of the operationsin- Figure 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view volved in stampingthe wheel body. A circular of a wheel embodying our invention; aperture24 is formed in the radially extending Figure 2 is a fragmentaryvertical sectional portion of the clip l9 for the reception of the 15view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the projection 23. At theradially inner end of the wheel and the retaining clip shown in Figure1; clip I9 is a tongue l8, formed integrally there- Figure 3 is afragmentary front elevational withand bent laterally from the bodyportion of view of the clip shown in Figure 2; the clip. The clip issecured to the bolting on Figures 4 and 5 are respectively fragmentaryflange of the wheel body l3 by inserting the pro- 20 cross-sectional andfront elevational views of a jection 23 in the aperture 24, and thetongue l8 modified form of the invention; in the upper end of theaperture l1, and then Figures 6 and 7 are respectively cross-sectionalriveting the end of the projection over asat 25. and front elevationalviews of another modifi- The tongue I8 is not deformed in any way aftercation of the invention; V its insertion in the aperture H. The purpose'25 Figures 8 and 9 are respectively cross-sectional of this tongue isto prevent rotation of the clip and front elevational views of stillanother modiabout the projection 23, thereby keeping it perfied form ofthe invention; and manently in operative position.

Figures 10 and 11 are respectively cross-sec- In the modification shownin Figures 4 and 5' tional and front elevational views of another thebolting on flange |2 of the wheel body I3 30 form of the invention. isformed with-an aperture 30 in addition to the Referring now moreparticularly to Figures aperture H. The clip 3| is provided with 'a 1 to3, there is shown a-wheel comprising a hub drawn tubular portion 32formed integrally Ill having a radially extending flange II to whichtherewith, which is adapted to be inserted in the 35 a bolting on flange|2 of a wheel'body portion aperture 30. The lower end of the clip 3| hasa 35 I3 is .demountably attached by any suitable tongue 34 similar tothe tongue l8 of the clip means (not shown). The outer peripheral edgeshown in Figures 1 to 3. The tubular portion 32 of the wheel bodyportion 3 extends substanis inserted in aperture 30, and the tongue 34in tially axially to form a rim seat portion H to aperture l1, and theinner end of tubular portion 40 which a rim I5 of the drop center typeis rigid- 32 is then expanded at 33 to. securely hold the 40 ly securedby a plurality of rivets |6. clip 3| to the bolting on flange l2.

The bolting on flange |2 of the wheel body l3 In the construction shownin Figures 6 and 7 has a plurality of spaced apertures |l concenthebolting on flange I2 is provided with an apertric withthe axis of thehub Ill for the recepture I! as in the aforementioned constructions,

tion of a locating pin "a. extending axially outand in addition has a.circular aperture Ill forthe 45 Wa dly f the flange It Will he noted Dareception of the clip securing means. The clip ticularly from Figur 3that he apertures are 4| has an integral tab 42 which is formed by of gn rally y- Shape, n the P n "11 exstriking it from the main body portionof the tends through the ar portion thereof. The clip, so that itextends laterally thereof. The

,0 rectangular portion of each aperture I1 is adaptlower end of the clipll is also provided with ed to receive a tongue l8 formed on the end ofa tongue 43. The clip is installed by inserting a clip H! which will bedescribed'presently. the tab 42 and tongue 43 throughap'ertures 40 Theclips |9 are adapted to removably secure and I1 respectively and thenbending the inner a cover to the wheel. The cover 20 has a flange end ofthe tab 42 over as shown at 44 whereby 2| extending both radially andaxially inwardly the clip is rigidly retained in position. It will 55 benoted that in this modification the aperture II is concealed by the mainbody of the clip.

The structure shown in Figures 8 and 9 is similar to the modificationshown in Figures 6 and '7. Apertures l1 and 50 are formed in the boltingon flange l2 and are adapted to receive the clip securing means.Aperture 50 is of rectangular shape; The clip 5| has a tongue 52 at itslower end, and spaced somewhat above the tongue 52 are two tabs 53 and54, both of which are struck from the main body of the clip St. Thetongue 52, and tabs 53 and 54 are inserted through the apertures l1 and50 respectively, and the ends of the tabs 53 and 54 are then bent overat their inner ends as shown at 55 and 56 respectively, in order topermanently attach the clip to the bolting on flange 12.

Figures 10 and 11 show still a further modification of the invention. Anaperture ii is provided in the bolting on flange 12 in the same manneras heretofore described, and a rectangular aperture 50 is provided inthe bolting on flange somewhat above the aperture II. The clip 6| hastwo prongs 62 and 53 which are struck from the edges of the clip,thereby leaving the intermediate strip 64 which extends substantiallyparallel with the bolting on flange I2. The lower end of the strip 64 isbent to form a tongue 55 adapted for insertion in the rectangularportion of the aperture H. The two prongs 62 and 63 are inserted in theaperture 60, and the tongue 65 in aperture I1, and the prongs 52 and G3are then bent over as at 66 to lock the clip to the wheel body. In thismodification the aperture is covered and concealed by the body of theclip 6|.

The means for retaining the various clips to the bolting on flange ofthe wheel body are considerably cheaper to manufacture than the meansheretofore used. In prior devices the clips were usually attached bymeans of separate rivets which necessitated the assembling of threeparts together, namely, the wheel body portion, the clip, and the rivet.More operations were therefore necessary in assembling the parts of theprior devices than are needed in assembling the clip and the wheel bodyof this invention. The va-- rious fastening devices formed on the clipsabove described can be stamped out at the same time as the rest of theclip is formed, thereby requiring but one operation to manufacture theclip. They can be readily assembled by merely inserting the fasteningdevices through the apertures and deforming them against the inner faceof the bolting on flange.

It will, therefore, be seen that we have provided a novel clip securingmeans that is inexpensive and very simply and easily assembled.

The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a vehicle wheel, in combination, a wheel body having a pair ofradially spaced apertures therein whereby to form a narrow anchor striptherebetween integral with the wheel body, a cover securing clip formedfrom an elongated strip of metal having an attaching portion juxtaposedto said wheel body, one end of said attaching portion being bentperpendicular thereto and received in one of said apertures, an integraltongue intermediate the ends of the attaching portion extending throughthe other aperture and having its free end bent toward the firstmentioned end of the said attaching portion whereby the anchor strip issecurely gripped by the attaching portion of the clip to secure thelatter to the wheel body.

2. In a vehicle wheel, in combination, a wheel body having a pair" ofradially spaced apertures therein whereby to form a narrow anchor striptherebetween integral with the wheel body, a cover securing clip formedfrom an elongated strip of metal having an attaching portion juxtaposedto the outer surface of said wheel body, one end of said attachingportion being bent perpendicular to said attaching portion and receivedin one of said apertures, said end engaging an axially extending surfaceof said'anchor strip, an integral tongue intermediate the ends of theattaching portion extending through the other aperture and engaging anaxially extendirg surface of the anchor strip, the free end of saidtongue being bent toward the first mentioned end of the attachingportion and engaging the axially inner surface of the anchor stripwhereby the anchor strip is securely gripped on all four surfaces bytheclip in order to secure the same against relative movement in alldirections.

3. The combination defined in claim 2, in which the tongue intermediatethe ends of the attaching portion is struck out of the main body of theattaching portion.

J HAROLD HUNT. HARRY J. HORN.

